Global pop star Taylor Swift is facing unexpected public backlash, and new data suggests the decline began even before her controversial private messages with actress Blake Lively became public.
According to a recent YouGov survey conducted on January 5, Swift’s popularity rating dropped to 46.7%, down sharply from 55.4% recorded at the same time last year. The poll was taken weeks before her text messages were revealed during a high-profile court case, indicating that public sentiment had already started to shift.
The controversy gained momentum on January 20, when messages exchanged between Swift and Lively were read out in court during the ongoing legal dispute involving Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni. One message reportedly showed Swift criticising Baldoni, while another celebrated Lively’s legal win after Baldoni was dropped by his agency.
Following the leak, Swift has reportedly been under emotional stress. A source told Us Weekly that the singer felt deeply uncomfortable seeing her private conversations become public. The source added that Swift felt “exposed” and “violated,” as messages meant to stay personal were suddenly part of public debate.
Despite the fall in popularity, Swift continues to remain one of the most recognised celebrities in the world. The same poll showed her name recognition at a massive 97.6%, highlighting that her global presence remains intact even as opinions fluctuate.
The next YouGov popularity update is expected in April, just weeks before speculation around Swift’s rumored wedding to NFL star Travis Kelce heats up again. However, those wedding rumors were recently played down by Kelce’s sister-in-law Kylie Kelce, who said on the Today show that she has “no idea” whether the wedding will happen this year.
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For now, Taylor Swift remains firmly in the spotlight, navigating a rare moment where public opinion appears more divided than usual.
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